The Bible AUTHENTIC HISTORY?

Timely Lessons From an Ancient Narrative

Among other things, the book Genesis reveals the start of the human family-names and all. On this subject no other work of history is so specific.  'But what is the value today of knowing our original ancestry?' You may ask. It has immense value, for in revealing that all humans-regardless of color, tribe, or nations-stem from the same parents, Genesis removes any basis for racism. -Acts 1 7:26. 

Genesis also offers guidance on morality. It contains the account about Sodom, Gomorrah, and their neighboring cities, which God destroyed because of the gross sexual perversion of their inhabitants.  (Genesis 18:-19:29) Verse 7 of the Bible book of Jude says:  "Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities about them, after they . . . had committed fornication for unnatural use, are placed before us as a warning example."  The people of Sodom and Gomorrah did not receive any moral laws from God; however, like all humans, they had the God given faculty of conscience. Hence, God could justly hole those people accountable for their deeds, whether they accept his Word, the Holy Bible, or not. -2 Thessalonians 1:8, 9. 

A History in Survival

A relief on the Arch of Titus in Rome depicts Roman  soldiers carrying off sacred vessels from the temple in Jerusalem after the city's destruction in the year 70 C.E. Over a million Jews were killed.  However, obedient Christians survived, thanks to Jesus' advance warning: "When you see Jerusalem surrounded by encamped armies, then know that the desolating of her has drawn near.  Then let those in the midst of her withdraw, and let those in the country places not into into to her; because these are days for meting out justice." -Luke 21:20-22. 

Far from being just ancient history, Jerusalem's tribulation foreshadowed aspects of a great tribulation soon to engulf the entire world. But once again, there will be survivors. These are described as "a great crowd . . . out of all the nations and tribes and peoples and tongues."  They "come out of the great tribulation" because of their faith in Jesus' shed blood-a faith firmly based on Biblical history and prophecy. -Revelation 7:9, 14. 

Next time: The Bible AUTHENTIC HISTORY?/History That Will Never Be Repeated

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